York Region EMS paramedics receive exemplary service award

The Regional Municipality of York is pleased to announce that York Region Emergency Medical Services (EMS) paramedics are once again recipients of the 2012 Governor General EMS Exemplary Service Medal.

“Paramedics play an important role in our communities by providing the highest standard of pre-hospital care,” said York Region Chairman and CEO Bill Fisch. “These awards illustrate the ongoing commitment of our Emergency Medical Services paramedics to help keep York Region residents and visitors safe.”

The award ceremony took place during the annual general meeting of the Ontario Association of Paramedic Chiefs (OAPC), formerly the Association of Municipal Emergency Medical Services of Ontario (AMEMSO), held in Ottawa last week. The York Region 2012 Award Recipients for the EMS Exemplary Service Medal are: Jennifer Catlender, Ruth de Vries, Robert Farley, Marlene Gray, Kevin Kwiecien and Jacquie Presley.

Having received Exemplary Service Medals in previous years, York Region EMS paramedics Ian Phythian (in 2004) and Fred Smith (in 2007) were also recognized at this year’s event for each contributing more than 40 years of service.

“This is the ninth consecutive year that York Region EMS paramedics have been honoured with this award,” said City of Markham Deputy Mayor Jack Heath, Chair of the Region’s Community and Health Services Committee. “As patient demand in York Region continues to grow, York Region EMS paramedics continue to demonstrate excellence in service, year after year.”

Governor General Exemplary Service Medals are awarded to EMS professionals as part of the Canadian Honours Programme. The award was created in 1994 and is available to eligible members of the pre-hospital emergency medical service who have served for at least 20 years in a commendable manner.

York Region’s team of more than 410 paramedics provide emergency medical response and pre-hospital care to York Region residents and visitors 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In 2011, York Region EMS paramedics responded to over 73,000 calls for assistance, an average of one call every seven minutes.